Electronic parts outfitting device

ABSTRACT

An electronic part mounting device having tape feeding units for holding and intermittently transferring electronic part assemblies each having a plurality of electronic parts fixed on tapes at specified intervals, a movable table being in a disc shape and rotatably installed for transferring the removably installed tape feeding unit to a specified first position, pressure clampers each removably mounted on the aforementioned movable table in proximity and in correspondence with the tape feeding unit, an inserting head as the working head for taking each electronic part off the electronic part assembly at the first position and then, holding and transferring the electronic part to a second position apart from the moving path of the movable table where this electronic part is mounted on a printed substrate, a chute located beneath the bottom of the movable table in correspondence with the aforementioned tape feeding unit for guiding to near the center of rotation of the movable table tape scraps and which have been cut off the taped electronic part assemblies and a tape cutter capable of cutting the tape scraps, located and between the chute and the center of rotation of the movable table, which does not intefer with the chute or the movable table. The device has the advantage of enabling random selection of electronic parts without sequentially arranging the electronic parts, has the effect of being unrestricted in the direction of mounting the electronic part on the printed substrate and in addition, permits integral holding and ready removal of the tape feeding unit and the electronic part assembly and moreover, cutting disposal of tape scraps and at a specified length.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an electronic parts mounting device forautomatically mounting a variety of electronic parts on respectivespecified positions on a printed substrate from a unit of such a deviceand provides such an mounting device intended for enabling its efficientutilization in the phase of maintenance and workability.

BACKGROUND ART

Heretofore available as devices for automatically making continuousmounting of different types of electronic parts such as a resistor (FIG.1a), a diode (FIG. 1b), etc., were those which were roughly categorizedinto two types by the feeding method of the aforementioned electronicparts.

Known inserting devices include a first system in which, for example, anassembly is prepared wherein electronic parts, which are different intype, are arranged in a band shape beforehand in the order of theirinsertion; such an assembly is directly fed to an insertion head, tomake successive insertion of the parts (FIG. 2).

On the other hand a second system is available in which assemblies ofthe needed types of electronic parts are prepared, same type ofelectronic parts in a band shape; at the times of inserting respectiveelectronic parts, such assemblies are selected in the order of insertionand the needed electronic part at a time is separated from each of theaforementioned assemblies and such parts are, then, conveyed to theinsertion head for their insertion by means such as a belt, pipe, etc.These methods have the following disadvantages, respectively:

Thus in the first system, a plurality of different types of parts needto be prepared as an assembly in a taping band shape; in such anassembly, their replacement can not be made, if insertion mistakes haveoccurred in any circumstances.

On the other hand, in the second system, because of the use of aconveyor or pipe, its turning or tilting while conveying the partsinterferes with their stable feeding to the insertion head. Furthermore,because a long time is taken to transport the parts, the number ofinsertion cycles of the parts can not be increased. Moreover, outerwalls of the conveyor and pipe tend to injure parts or deform leadwires.

Against this background, there has already been proposed and put intopractical use a new type of inserting device capable of solving suchdisadvantages of the aforementioned devices adapted for continuousinsertion of different types of parts. This device employs the type ofarrangement disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4205433 in which a means isprovided for holding a plurality of taped assemblies side by side, eachassembly comprising electronic parts of same type and transferring oneof the aforementioned plurality of electronic part assemblies to thespecified position for feeding the part. In addition an insertion headmakes a reciprocal motion between the aforementioned part feedingposition and the position adjacent a printed substrate, located apartfrom the part feeding position, to transfer the single electronic partwhich has been cut off the electronic part assembly at the part feedingposition to a position in proximity to the printed substrate and at thislatter position, the electronic part is inserted into the aforementionedprinted substrate. This system is called random access type, as againstthe sequential type of the aforementioned first system. The insertiondevice of this system has outstanding effects in response to insertionmistake of electronic part and stability in insertion.

On the other hand, in the advancing field of automation by use of suchmounting devices of electronic parts, needs exist not only forstabilization of arrangement but for dealing with the project of growingforming lines with various types of automatic mounting devices and thereis a demand for development of mounting devices which are to be designedfor high work efficiency in totality through effective utilization ofmachine installing space and improvement in productivity.

With regard to the device disclosed by the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No.4205433, a plurality of electronic part assemblies are mounted parallelto each other on a movable stand in one direction; the movable stand ismoved along a straight line to bring a specified part to the vicinity ofthe insertion head position, which requires a large space in the lengthdirection of the machine, raising the problem of the whole size of themachine becoming too large. In addition a tape feeding unit is fixed tothe movable table, causing trouble in displacement of parts and lowworkability; moreover, the tape scraps produced after the tapedelectronic parts have been inserted are discharged as they are; thisposes the problem of such tape scraps coiling around the tape feedingunit, when it is attached or detached.

In connection with the problem of space mentioned above, a device forproviding a more advantageous system is disclosed by Japanese PatentGazette No. 66466 of 1979. In this device, the electronic partassemblies are placed further outside the tape feeding unit which islocated at the outer periphery of a movable stand in the shape of acircular table and an insertion head provided with a turret typeinsertion chuck mechanism effects sequential insertion of electronicparts.

This device has such disadvantages as hereunder enumerated: First, acartridge type arrangement is formed by unifying the tape feeding unitand the electronic part assemblies, but this requires time in theirattaching and detaching. Secondly, for performing tape scrap disposal,tape cutting mechanisms are equipped in all tape feeding units mountedon the circular table, resulting in high manufacturing cost. Andthirdly, in the event of a mistaken insertion, while the insertingdevice is in operation, the same parts can not be resupplied, because ofthe sequential insertion of electronic parts.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The device of this invention has tape feeding units each for holding andintermittently transferring a taped electronic part assembly having atfixed at specified intervals a plurality of electronic parts, etc.,provided with lead wires coaxially extending from both ends of eachbody; a movable table being in disk shape and rotatably installed fortransferring the aforementioned tape feeding unit removably held thereonto the specified first position, pressure clampers each removablyinstalled on the aforementioned movable table in proximity and incorrespondence to the tape feeding unit; a working head for cutting theelectronic part off the electronic part assembly at the aforementionedfirst position and then holding and transferring this electronic part toa second position located apart from the moving path of theaforementioned movable table but near the surface of a printedsubstrate, to mount this electronic part on the printed substrate; achute for guiding to the vicinity of the center of rotation of theaforementioned movable table, tape scraps which have been left overafter the electronic parts have been cut off the taped electronicassemblies, which is located beneath the bottom surface of the movabletable in correspondence with the aforementioned tape feeding unit; atape cutter capable of cutting the aforementioned tape scraps, installednear the chute and between it and the center of rotation of the movabletable, where it is not interfered with by this chute and the movabletable. The device of the present invention has the effect of not beingsubjected to limitation in the direction of mounting the electronicparts on the printed substrate, in addition to the benefit of permittingrandom selection of electronic parts without making sequentialarrangement of the electronic parts, and the effects of enabling easyunification and mounting and dismantling of the tape feeding unit andthe electronic assembly and further, facilitates disposal of tape scrapsby cutting them to a definite length, thereby permitting easy and quickexecution of a part change without suffering tape dangling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1(a) is a plan view of a resistor, FIG. 1(b) a plan view of a diodeand FIG. 1(c) a plan view of a band shape part assembly used with theelectronic part inserting device of an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explanation of a conventional partinserting device;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an electronic part inserting device ofan embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a partly broken plan view of this electronic part insertingdevice;

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the same;

FIG. 6 is a partly broken sectional view of the tape feeding unit wheninserting the electronic part;

FIG. 7 is a side view of this tape feeding unit;

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of this tape feeding unit;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of this tape feeding unit;

FIG. 10 is a side view partly in section of this tape feeding unitinstalled on the movable table;

FIG. 11 is an elevation of a tape cutter;

FIG. 12(a) is a sectional view along line A--A' shown in FIG. 11, andFIG. 12(b) shows enlarged sectional views of the principal parts offixed and removable cutting edges;

FIG. 13 is a plan view partly in section of an insertion head;

FIG. 14 is an elevation of the same;

FIG. 15 is a side view partly in section of the same;

FIG. 16 is an elevation partly in section of the principal part of thesame; and

FIG. 17 is a diagram for explanation of the arrangement of parts.

THE MOST PREFERABLE MODE FOR PRACTICE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will become more apparent from a description takenin connection with an embodiment of this invention and with reference todrawings starting with FIG. 3.

Numeral 1 designates a tape feeding unit which functions as a housingpart 7 for a band shape part assembly 6. Each band shape part assemblyis formed by fixing at equal intervals a plurality of electronic parts 3having lead wires 2a and 2b coaxially extending therefrom with tapes 4and 5 like paper, etc., which are readily curvable. The tape feedingunit also functions to supply the parts from the band shape assembly 6.Numeral 8 is a movable table for carrying a plurality of tape feedingunits 1 and making a circular movement to arbitrarily move any one ofthe tape feeding units 1 to a specified part take-out position. Themovable table contains a driving part 9 for moving the movable table 8to the set position and a chute 10 for guiding out the tapes 4 and 5from which the parts are cut off and the discharged tapes areaccumulated in a scrap box 12 after being cut to a specified length by atape cutter 11 (to be described later). Numeral 13 is a cutter unit fornot only separating the lead wires from the tapes at the specified parttake-out position, but for forming the lead wires into a specified shapeand moving the lead wires by pivoting the cutter unit to a printedsubstrate 14 so that these lead wires are passed along a guide grooveand inserted into the printed substrate. Numeral 15 is a substratemoving part for holding the printed substrate 14 and setting theinserting position in the printed substrate 14 by moving fore and aftand right and left. Numeral 16 denotes a driving control part forcontrolling the mutually interlocked operations between theaforementioned tape feeding unit 1, movable table 8, tape cutter 11,driving motor 17 for the movable table 8, inserting head 18 as a workinghead which operates in concert with the cutter unit 13 and the substratemoving part 15, etc.

First, the tape feeding unit 1 is discribed with reference to FIGS.3-10. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1c, parts of same type areput together with adhesive tapes 4 and 5 at equal intervals P. Numerals19 and 19' denote feeding ratchet wheels for feeding out the band shapeassembly 6 by a definite pitch, each of which has ratchets provided inagreement with the pitch P. The aforementioned ratchet wheels 19 and 19'are respectively fixed on the shaft 21 axially supported by the tapefeeding unit body 20 at a dimension a little narrower than the tapingwidth W and on one end of the shaft 21, a driving ratchet wheel 22having same number of ratchets as that of the ratchet wheels 19 and 19'is mounted. A lever 24 having mounted thereon a ratchet 23 which engageswith the ratchet wheel 22 is rotatably supported on the shaft 21 and onthe other end of lever 24, opposite to the ratchet 23, a roller 25 isprovided for relieving frictional resistance when the lever 24 ispushed. Numeral 26 designates a holding spring for the ratchet 23, and27 a detent pawl for the ratchet wheel; thereby a timing for the ratchetwheels 19 and 19' and 22 is so adjusted that the taped parts are broughtto the feeding line X--X' (a position where the part is cut by thecutter unit 13). Numeral 28 denotes a holding spring for detent pawl 27for ratchet wheel. Numerals 29, 30 and 31 stand for staying plates forprevention of tapes' floating up; 32 and 32' are frames for holdingtherebetween parts housing box 33 which forms a parts housing space 7;both are fixed to the tape feeding unit body 20. This tape feeding unit1 has fixing pins 34 and 35 at its base part; a plurality of tapefeeding units 1 are engageable with coupling holes 36, 36' . . .provided at specified intervals in the movable table 8 and by means of alinked clamper 37 fixed to the movable table 8, the tape feeding unitbody central part seat 20' is pressed and pivotally linked.

Then the linked clamper 37 is described further in detail: The linkedclamper 37 has a clamper body 38, pressure lever 40 provided with apressure means 39, lever 41 and a handle lever 42; this handle lever 42is coupled with the clamper body 38 through pins 43 and rotatable withrespect thereto. The linked clamper 37 is located at a positioncorresponding to the central part seat 20' which is projecting from themovable table 8 in the direction at approximately a right angle to theunit body 20.

By employing the structure as hereabove described, the lever 24 isturned in the direction indicated by the arrow mark K; as one tooth ofthe ratchet wheel 22 is fed, the ratchet wheels 19 and 19' will feed thetaped part 3 by the taping pitch P, making it possible to feed the partsone by one to the specified feed line X--X'. And by pulling up thehandle lever 42 of the linked clamper 37 in the arrow direction M by asmall muscle force, the pressure lever 40 is moved in the direction ofthe arrow mark Q, permitting the tape feeding unit 1 to be removed fromthe movable table 8 by releasing the pressure.

In the following, the tape cutter 11 is described with reference toFIGS. 11, 12a and 12b. Numeral 44 designates a fixed cutting edge, and45 a rotary cutting edge, both being cutting edges for cutting the tapes4 and 5. On their surfaces along the line S--S', there are providedconcavities 44' and 45' for discharging deposits produced after tapeshave been cut. The fixed cutting edge 44 is held by a slider bracket 47through a bracket 46, while the movable cutting edge 45 is mounted onsliders 48 which go up--down in concert along channels 47' and 47"formed in the slider bracket 47. Numeral 49 designates a guide blockwhich is installed on the slider 48 to guide out tape scraps 4 and 5which have been cut off.

Numeral 50 is a lever which is adapted for up--down motion of the slider48 and which is rotatably mounted on a fulcrum shaft 52 held by a sliderbracket 47 through a spacer 51. It has a swinger 54 which is movable toright--left in the grooves 48' and 48" of the slider 48 and which isrotatably attached on a pin 53, and it is coupled to a piston rod 55through a block 56 and a pin 57. Numeral 58 denotes the body base of thetape cutter 11, which is engagingly holding the slider bracket 47, abracket 61 on which stoppers 59 and 60 for regulating the stroke of thelever 50 are mounted, cylinder bracket 62, cylinder 63 and tape guide 64and which is engagingly held by columns 65 and 66.

This tape cutter 11 is located near the delivery port of the chute 10installed under the movable table 8 and is fixed to the body 67 throughthe columns on a line connecting the specified part-take-out position onthe tape feeding unit 1 and the center of rotation of the movable table8, without interfering with the chute 10 and the movable table 8.

The scraps 4 and 5 flow down through the chute 10 and are fed to aposition beyond the cutting position B--B'. At this time, the tapecutter 11 is set at the position indicated in FIGS. 11 and 12. As air isfed to a cylinder 63 in this state through an air supply hose 63', apiston rod 55 moves in the arrow mark direction of FIG. 11 and the lever50 turns upward with the fulcrum shaft 52 as the center. At the sametime, the slider 48 and the movable cutting edge 45 are raised by adistance R. Simultaneously, tape scraps 4 and 5 are cut off at theposition on the line B--B' and discharged through a guide 64.

Then the former state is resumed by switching the air to an air supplyhose to 63". One cycle of operation of the tape cutter 11 has now beendescribed herein above.

Next, the insertion head 18 is described with reference to FIGS. 13through 17.

Numeral 68 designates an insertion shaft, is axially supported forup-down sliding motion through guide cylinders 70 and 71, with its leveladjustable by means of a nut 72. Numeral 73 denotes a driving shaftwhich is slidable along its axis and supported in the inside hole of theinsertion shaft 68 and which is coupled to a head lever 75 throughrollers 74 and 74'. A pin 78 is slidable in a stepped part 73' of thedriving shaft 73. The pin 78, which is abutted on a retainer 77, ispressed by a compression spring 76 with the spring pressure of thecompression spring 76 so set that a rod 79 of the cutter unit 13 ispressured when inserting a part and that the pressurizing deformationdue to error of the diameter of the part 3 may be prevented (refer toFIG. 16). A head lever 75 is supported by a fulcrum shaft 80 at its oneend and abutted on a cam 82' through a cam follower 82 under thedownward pulling pressure by a pulling cylinder 81. The insertion shaft68, although subjected to the downward pulling pressure transmitted fromthe head lever, is engaged by the stepped part 73' of the drive shaft73. Numeral 83 stands for a shaft-fitted pinion for rotating the cutterunit 13. Numeral 84 denotes a slide rack meshed with the shaft-fittedpinion 83, which has a compression spring not shown in the drawingsinstalled therein, which spring placed in a bracket 85, is alwayspushing upward the slide rack 84, thereby abutting it on the bottomsurface 70' of the guide cylinder 70 through a roller 86.

Numeral 87 designates a feed shaft for driving the lever 24 of the tapefeeding unit 1, which is slidably supported by the insertion head body69 and movable up and down along its axis. Numeral 88 denotes a feedblock attached on the tip of the feed shaft 87, which abuts on a roller25 of the aforementioned lever 24 when feeding the tapes. Numeral 89stands for a pin coupling the shaft 87 with the feed lever 90. Numeral91 designates a compression spring interposed between the insertion headbody 69 and the shaft 87, which is always pressing the feed shaft 87downward.

The feed lever 90 is supported by the fulcrum shaft 80 at its end and isabutting on a cam 93 through a cam follower under the downward pullingpressure by the pulling cylinder not shown in the drawings. FIG. 17illustrates a layout of parts 3. When inserting a part 3 in the Y--Y'line direction which is on the same plane as the Z--Z' line, the part 3pinched by the cutter unit 13 along the Z--Z' line as previouslydescribed is changed to the Y--Y' line.

Referring to FIGS. 13, 14 and 15, 94 denotes a lever which subjected tothe downward pulling pressure by the pulling cylinder 96, with the shaft95 as the fulcrum, is abutted on a rotary plate cam 98 through a camfollower 97. The rod 99 is attached to a plate 101 through a pin 100.

A sliding body 102 is clamped by a plate 101, is internally in contactwith guide plates 103 and 104 fixed on the insertion body 69, to beslidably held thereby and is slidably holding a slider 107 rotatablyengaged on a pin 106 fixed on a lever 105. A guide 108, together withthe lever 105, holds and slidably axially support the insertion shaft68, mating its concavity 108' with a fitting part formed on theinsertion shaft 68. The insertion shaft 68 is coupled to the drivingshaft 73 at a ball shape concavity 73" through a steel ball 109 andaxially supported by a guide cylinder 71 for free rotation and axialmovement. With the aforementioned structure, by turning the rotary platecam 98, the driving shaft 73 may be turned clockwise by 90° (arrow markE line Y--Y') and it may be reset to the line Z--Z' by turning itcounter-clockwise. On the guide cylinder 71, a groove 71' for undoingthe coupling between the insertion shaft 68 and the driving shaft 73,when inserting a part, is internally provided.

In the following, the operations in inserting electronic parts 3 aredescribed with reference to FIGS. 5, 13, 14, 15 and 16:

FIG. 15 represents the origin point (start position) in the one cycle ofthe inserting operation, in which the cutter unit 13 is set by theturning of the movable table 8 to a position where it is free fromcollision with the tape feeding unit 1 in its specified position. Underthis state, by the turning of the cam 82' by which the operation of thehead lever 75 has been set beforehand, the driving shaft 73 coupled tothe head lever 75 is brought up and by the actions of the shaft-fittedpinion 83 and the slide rack 84, the cutter unit 13 is pivoted from avertical position to a horizontal position in the direction of the arrowF, to be set on the line X--X'. Simultaneously therewith, the feed shaft87 descends due to the turning of the cam 93 by which the operation ofthe feed lever 90 is set; then, the feed block 88 attached to the tip ofthe shaft pressures the lever 24 through the roller 25 of the tapefeeding unit 1, thereby transferring to the line X--X' the electronicpart assembly 6 which is placed one pitch (P) before the line X--X'.Then using a mechanism of the cutter unit 13, not shown in the drawings,the lead wires 2a and 2b of the electronic part assembly (FIG. 1) arecut; formed and held. Simultaneously, the driving shaft 73 and theinsertion shaft 68 begin to go down and the cutter unit 13 is pivoted(in the G direction) by the aforementioned shaft-fitted pinion 83 andthe slide rack 84, to return to its original position. The driving shaft73 and the insertion shaft 68 begin to go down (in the H direction) and,as a result, the insertion shaft 68 descends, until the nut 72 by whichit is hung comes to abut on the guide cylinder 71. Under this condition,a guide 110 located on the cutter unit 13, corresponding to theinserting hole of the printed substrate 14 and holding the cut andformed lead wires 2a and 2b, is so positioned in level that it isbrought on the top surface of the printed substrate 14. As the drivingshaft 73 further descends, the steel ball 109 coupling the driving shaft13 with the inserting shaft 68 moves to the groove 71' of the guidecylinder 71; then, only the driving shaft 73 descends and the pin 78,which is internally in contact with the stepped part 73' of the drivingshaft 73, pressures a rod 79 placed in the cutter unit 13, therebyinserting the electronic part 3 into the insertion holes in the printedsubstrate. After the insertion of the part has been finished, thedriving shaft 73 starts rising (in the D direction), then to return toits former position at the origin. The aforementioned descriptionexplains the inserting operations in one cycle.

As the electronic part assembly 6 has passed the line X--X', the tapes 4and 5 flowing down the chute 10 flow down the chute 10 successively andare discharged over the line B--B'. Then the tape cutter, as soon as theelectronic part assembly 6 is transferred to the line X--X', beginsoperating, to cut the tapes 4 and 5 which have crossed the line B--B'.The tape scraps are then accumulated in a waste box 12 after passingthrough a guide cylinder 111 and guide chute 112.

FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL UTILIZATION

The present invention is characterized in that an insertion head goes tospecified positions to take out parts held on tapes. The presentinvention avoids the method of feeding to a fixed working insertion headtapes on which electronic parts are sequentially assembled in thefitting order or the method of sequentially taking out and insertingparts held on tapes which have been fed to specified positions, using aturret type taking-out mechanism of an insertion. In the presentinvention, the insertion head goes to specified positions in every cycleto take out parts held on tapes which have been fed to these positionsand at other different positions. The insertion head performs thefitting work for mounting the parts on a printed substrate, so that thenecessary parts may be randomly taken out by the insertion head andthen, mounted on the printed substrate. The invention provides apressure clamper for fixing the tape feeding unit to a movable tablewhich simplifies the attaching and detaching by unifying the tapefeeding unit with the electronic part assembly. In addition, theinvention provides a tape cutter for cutting the tape scraps to aspecified length after the parts have been cut off the electronic partassembly, thus parts replacement work is facilitated without permittingtape scraps to coil around the tape feeding unit.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic parts mounting device, comprising:arotatable support, said rotatable support having a disc shape and acenter of rotation; a tape feeding means removably mounted on andtransferred by said rotatable support, said tape feeding means holdingand intermittently feeding electronic part assemblies to a firstposition along a moving path of said rotatable support, each of saidelectronic part assemblies having a plurality of electronic parts heldat specified intervals along tapes; clamping means, removably mounted onsaid rotatable support, for removably clamping said tape feeding meansto said rotatable support; an insertion head for removing a desiredelectronic part in said first position from an electronic part assembly,said insertion head holding and transferring said electronic part to asecond position near the surface of a printed substrate, said secondposition being spaced from said first position and away from the movingpath of said rotatable support; guiding means, located below a bottomsurface of said rotatable support in correspondence with said tapefeeding means, for guiding tape scraps left over after said electronicparts have been removed from respective electronic part assemblies; tapecutting means for cutting said tape scraps, said tape cutting meanslocated adjacent said guiding means but between said guiding means andsaid center of rotation of said rotatable support such that said tapecutting means does not interfere with rotation of said rotatable supportor said guiding means; substrate support means, located below saidinsertion head, for moving a printed substrate in a plane to a desiredposition; and drive control means, operably connected to at least saidrotatable support and said substrate support means, for moving saidrotatable support to a position where a specified tape feeding means canintermittently feed a desired electronic part to said first position andfor moving said substrate support means to a position where it isdesired to mount said electronic part on said printed substrate.
 2. Theelectronic parts mounting device of claim 1, wherein a storage space isprovided in said tape feeding means for integrally holding saidelectronic part assemblies.
 3. The electronic parts mounting device ofclaim 1, wherein each of said tape feeding means includes a body centerpart and at least one protrusion extending from said body center part,said clamping means mounted on said rotatable support for clamping saidat least one protrusion to said rotatable support.
 4. The electronicparts mounting device of claim 1, wherein said tape cutting meansincludes at least one cutting edge surface, said at least one cuttingedge surface having a concavity for cutting tape scraps.